By Issah Olegor
The protracted ethnic conflict in Bawku and its adjoining communities has flared up again, leaving a trail of destruction and trauma.
Over the weekend, a series of violent incidents were reported in parts of the Bawku enclave, culminating in the burning of several homes, gunfire injuries to children, and the elimination of a suspected extremist.
In one of the most distressing episodes, a woman and her two children came under attack by armed bandits while traveling to visit relatives in Azanga, a volatile area within the conflict zone.
The children sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at the Presbyterian Hospital.
The mother reportedly escaped physical harm but is said to be traumatized by the attack.
Security sources have described the assailants as armed tribal extremists, believed to be part of groups operating between the Daduri and Azanga areas—two known flashpoints in the ongoing Bawku crisis.
In a related operation, one such extremist, alleged to be a notorious figure in the region, was neutralized by security forces.
In a separate but connected incident in Gumyoko, a community in the Binduri District bordering Bawku, heavily armed individuals launched an overnight assault targeting Mamprusi residents.
The attackers, described by local witnesses as tribal militants, set fire to nearly a dozen houses, destroying valuable property and displacing families.
The renewed violence comes amid a fragile security situation in Bawku, where ethnic tensions—primarily between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups—have persisted for years.
Although government-led peace efforts have been underway, including curfews and military deployments, sporadic attacks continue to undermine stability in the region.
Residents have expressed growing frustration over the inability of security agencies to contain the violence, which has paralyzed social and economic life in the area.
Civil society groups have called on the Ministry of Interior and the National Peace Council to intensify dialogue and ensure justice for victims of targeted attacks.
The Bawku conflict, deeply rooted in disputes over chieftaincy and ethnic identity, has seen repeated cycles of violence despite numerous peace accords.
The latest surge in hostilities raises renewed concerns about the adequacy of the state’s response and the long-term prospects for reconciliation.
